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Today's Poll: Do you support the U.S. recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving U.S. Embassy to the City?

By Howard B. Owens
Howard B. Owens

Here's what a writer for The American Conservative Magazine has to day about it

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/trumps-costly-jerusalem-…

"Trump is a “pro-Israel” hawk surrounded by pro-settler hard-liners, so his instinct is to indulge Israel at the expense of its neighbors. This decision would do that and more. Despite his talk about wanting to make a deal between Israelis and Palestinians, Trump has obvious contempt for successful diplomacy that requires compromise, so telling him that recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would destroy the chances of a peace agreement doesn’t mean anything to him. He is a fan of taking unilateral action, and he thinks that he can pressure others into making concessions by breaking existing U.S. commitments. On foreign policy, Trump has often made a point of doing the opposite of whatever Obama did, and insofar as Obama was perceived as being too “tough” on Israel Trump wants to go as far in the other direction as he possibly can. In the end, it is probably the desire for praise and flattery that matters most to him. There is no benefit for the U.S. to be had in any of this, but Trump is doing it just so that hard-liners will congratulate him for being an extremely “pro-Israel” president."

Dec 6, 2017, 10:06am Permalink
Dave Meyer

Face it...he’s doing this for ONE reason only. The “look at me” factor.
If he had ANY understanding of international affairs, he would never do this.
He’s an ass.

Dec 6, 2017, 11:40am Permalink
John Roach

Dave, why? Since 1948 people have been trying to make a peace deal. How many decades do you need to know that the Palestinians want nothing more than no Israel and no Jews there.
Republicans and Democrats have tried. Bill Clinton, of all the Presidents, probably came the closest, but no matter what he did or offered to give them, the Palestinians still said no

So, if Trump goes through with this, what will be different than what we have now?.

Dec 6, 2017, 11:58am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

John, and what evidence do we have that Isreal wants peace? The continued settlements? Building synagogs on Palestinian land? The blockade of Gaza?

BTW: There was mutual recognition by both sides in 1993.

The fact is, even if your one-sided interpretation of events were true, what does the U.S. gain by interfering further? There is no U.S. interest that is served by Trump's action and it greatly increases the security risk to the U.S. and U.S. interests. There are no pluses only negatives.

We shouldn't be involved in Middle East politics at all. I know a lot of Trump supporters who supported him because they thought we would finally get a non-interventionist president. Well, here's another example of why that isn't true.

Dec 6, 2017, 12:51pm Permalink
John Roach

Howard, what I am saying is that what will be different? Nothing. The same people that son't like us will still not like us. And since nobody in the past has been able to reach a peace deal (Since 1948, the Arabs have refused to even agree that Israel has a right to exist in any way shape or form) I don't think this move will make any difference.

Dec 6, 2017, 1:01pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

You don't think it's a provocation, a recruiting tool for terrorists and an act that will inspire attacks directly, if not on the U.S., at least U.S. installations and resources?

I think it makes a hell of a lot of difference and none of it good for the U.S.

It's definitely a step backward for any hope of peace negotiations. It simply causes the other side to dig in its heels harder.

The shrug of "it can't hurt" isn't how you do diplomacy. Further, it can hurt in every respect and very much. Like I said, there's nothing to be gained, and if there's nothing to be gained, why do it?

Like I said, so much for non-intervention in this administration.

Dec 6, 2017, 1:14pm Permalink
Dave Meyer

John, ya know when you have a fire? One of the things you shouldn’t do is throw gasoline on it. You could get burned. Badly.
I would think that the “great negotiator”, Kushner would have had this all worked out by now, but I guess not.
The fact remains that there are no deep thinkers, including trump, in that administration with ANY different proposals that might lead to peace.
As usual with trump, he’s all hat and no cattle. It’s all about the bluster and his need to be at the center of attention. He’s a fool and the sooner he’s gone, the better off the world will be.

Dec 6, 2017, 1:26pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Howard. "You don't think it's ... a recruiting tool for terrorists and an act that will inspire attacks directly, if not on the U.S., at least U.S. installations and resources?"

Personally, Howard, I believe a picture of an American grandmother sharing a Baskin-Robbins ice cream cone with her grandchildren would/could be used as a recruiting tool by terrorists.

Dec 6, 2017, 1:50pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

Barack Hussein Obama, elected November 4, 2008. He accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 2009, for no accomplishments whatsoever. But as a Diplomat might say, John Kerry for example, “The award is extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” John Kerry certainly wasn’t talking about peace between Israel and Palestine then, or after Obama left Office.

http://www.dailywire.com/news/11993/do-palestinians-want-peace-here

The Daily Wire-5 Reason's the Palestinian's don't want Peace.

In Secretary of State and Professional Asshat™ John Kerry’s execrable speech on the Arab-Israeli conflict on Wednesday, the man whose face is a living rockslide declared that the true obstacle to peace was Israel building bathrooms in Efrat and East Jerusalem. Kerry repeatedly maintained that Palestinians want peace with Israel. That’s eminently untrue, and it’s been untrue for the entirety of the so-called peace process and long before.

Here are five demonstrations that the “Palestinians want peace” notion is an outright lie, and that Palestinians actually prefer a continued conflict that maintains the possibility of the full-scale destruction of the Jewish State.

1. Palestinian Response To Kerry Speech. Hilariously, just after Kerry ripped into Israel in unprecedented fashion and declared that if Israel stopped all settlement building and moved to reverse settlements, as well as splitting Jerusalem, Palestinians would embrace peace, the Palestinians openly scoffed at him. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki immediately stated that Kerry had not proposed anything new, and refused recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. So much for Kerry’s proposed peace deal.

2. Palestinians Have Repeatedly Refused Kerry’s Deal. In 2000, far-left Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered over 90 percent of Judea and Samaria, all of the Gaza Strip, a land-link between the two, Palestinian control over the mosques on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, as well as cash for Palestinian refugees. Arafat ran away from the table. Even useful idiot Thomas Friedman stated about Arafat, “He came with no compromise ideas of his own on Jerusalem. He simply absorbed Mr. Barak’s proposals and repeated Palestinian mantras about recovering all of East Jerusalem.” Just months later, Arafat launched an Intifada. In 2008, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered nearly 94 percent of Judea and Samaria, plus another six percent of Israeli territory, a link to the Gaza Strip, withdrawal from East Jerusalem’s Arab neighborhoods, and placement of the Old City under international control. Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas walked away from the table.

3. The Palestinian Unity Government Is Rooted In Anti-Jewish Terror. The Palestinian government is committed to the destruction of Israel. It is a tripartite unity government under the control of the terrorist group Hamas, the terrorist group Fatah, and the terrorist group Islamic Jihad. Not one of these groups recognizes Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. All teach, fund, and promote terrorism against Jews, as even Kerry acknowledged. The charters for each of these groups call for Israel’s full destruction.

4. Polls Show Palestinians Are Not Interested In A Durable Peace. Kerry kept saying that Palestinians want peace. That’s not what the polls say. A poll from the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research as of September 2015 found that 51 percent of Palestinians rejected the two-state solution. A plurality, 42 percent, said that the best way of establishing a Palestinian state would be “armed action,” with just 29 percent saying negotiation. Polls also showed Hamas running evenly with the supposedly-moderate Palestinian Authority. Prior polls show that Palestinian willingness to accept a Jewish state would be only temporary anyway: a poll from 2010 showed that while about 60 percent of Palestinians supported a two-state solution at the time, they also thought that in the end, Israel would disappear. Just 23 percent said they believed in a right to exist for a Jewish homeland in Israel.

5. Israeli Attempts To Uproot Settlements Have Been Met With Violence. Perhaps the best evidence that Palestinians are not interested in peace comes courtesy of actual history: in 2005, the Israeli government forced 8,000 Jews from their homes in the Gaza Strip and handed all control over to the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinians promptly burned down every resource left by the Jews, then turned around and elected the terrorist group Hamas, which proceeded to arm and then attack Israeli civilians, use funding to build terror tunnels designed for kidnapping and murder, and attempt to ship in more armaments from Iran and Turkey. Again, Hamas was elected. They now sit in the unity government with the Palestinian Authority and Islamic Jihad.

So no, the Palestinians are not interested in peace. They never have been. Israel accepted UN borders in 1947; the Arabs declared war. Israelis accepted the armistice lines of 1949; the Arabs created the Palestine Liberation Organization to “liberate” Palestine – meaning all of Israel, including Tel Aviv and Haifa – from Jewish rule in 1964, before the so-called “occupation.” In 1979, the Jews handed over the Sinai for promises of peace with Egypt. In 1993, the Jews signed the Oslo Accords. The Jews have made concession after concession, and each new concession has been met with a wave of violence.

But it’s the Jews’ fault, according to John Kerry and company. To believe that, you merely have to be ignorant of history, reality, and decency.

Dec 6, 2017, 2:36pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

#Joke! As you can see I don't use coloring books for references to make a point. As for "All hat and no cattle," is that something you created, an original thought, or an old Texas saying? Regardless, I like it. I've always thought of Obama as the Emporer with no clothes.

Dec 6, 2017, 3:24pm Permalink
James Burns

Interesting there seems to be a lot of cutting and pasting going on.

Here are my two cents. The US is supposed to be the peace broker between Israel and Palestine. We, the USA, are now showing favor to one side and inflaming the other side. How does this help? It does not. Not only that but i gives more PR to the Iranian and it's allies in the Mid East. Not just PR for war, but PR to help sell their crops, their machined goods. We have dismantled our Stare Department, many positions have been left empty. We are leaving a void in international politics by abandoning our offices and allies.

People, business and counties do business with us because they can make money because of our stability and resources. We are now perceived not to be stable and a business partner that breaks promises.

No matter how big a wall is built the US is not an untouchable Island. A fact those in land locked western NY seem to forget. We make goods and sell services internationally, right here from Batavia. Good world political decisions are good for Batavians. We reap the benefits directly in sales. The sales dollars then go to other services and business in town.

I personally have lost international business during the Bush wars, the Obama sanctions on Russia and now international sales are lower than ever with this administration. My international partners have very little confidence in long term international business relations with the US because we are now considered unstable. They are putting their resources into Europe and Asia not the US.

So there you go. I did not have to cut and paste anything to let you know why this is a bad decision for Batavia. My history with my business tells me so. My sales numbers tell me so.

Dec 6, 2017, 3:28pm Permalink
Dave Meyer

Imagine that!
Mr. Burns says that his trading partners consider the U.S. to be “unstable”.
How can that be under the ‘leadership’ of the Great and Powerful Oz, the “great businessman”?
I’ll tell you how. Because he’s a goddam pretender who doesn’t know his ass from his elbow. He’s surrounded himself with the “best people”. So far we’ve got 2 guilty pleas and 2 under federal indictment.
The Department of State is a hollowed out shell at a time when the whack job in NK is hell bent on starting WWIII.
I hate what you trump voters have done to our country.

Dec 6, 2017, 4:22pm Permalink
James Burns

I am a bit perturbed too Dave. However. All of us are on team U.S.A. This divide between left and right appears to have become quite the chasm.

I think it is in all for our best interests to try and stifle our anger and think of our common goals. We are destroying ourselves from within. Just like Russia had hoped.

Lets try not to fight our fellow Americans. As one Republican, we can all respect, said “A house divided against itself cannot stand”

Dec 6, 2017, 4:38pm Permalink
James Burns

I don't know 10K rpm is a lot with out balancing and proper lube, he would be on fire by now.

Easy or not, this is what we need to do, banding together. America is neither left nor right. It is centrist. That was the intention of the founding Fathers.

BTW I like I got a thumbs down for telling people not to fight. Funny.

Dec 6, 2017, 5:24pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

How interesting our trading partners find us unstable, with the Dow shows record numbers with growing confidence in the market. There was a drop though when Brian Ross from ABC News lied about Fylnn. The GDP was 3% for President Trumps first 3 quarters and unemployment is 4.1% and at a 16 year low. Obama's 8 year GDP averaged 1.6 per quarter. Keep on making fun of President Trump, Dave. Obama promised hope and change, but what he didn't tell us was it wouldn't happen until he was out of office. After 8 years of Obama's middle east policy, there is a thriving slave trade in Libya, and yet there is no slave trade in Israel. I agree Lincoln might be spinning in his grave.

Dec 6, 2017, 6:01pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

"The GDP was 3% for President Trumps first 3 quarters and unemployment is 4.1%"

Thank you to Janet Yellen. No thanks to DJT who hasn't done a single thing yet that would have any economic impact.

The DOW is up --- that will happen after seven or eight years of slow, steady growth based on good monetary policy.

Dec 6, 2017, 6:25pm Permalink
Julie Morales

Dave, there is at least one other reason, the “don’t look at me factor:” diversion from Baby Trump testifying (or rather, refusing to testify) to the House Intelligence Committee today and my hero Robert Mueller zeroing in on his lying, traitorous ass.

Everybody knows all about that, right?

Rich, you forgot her emails!

Howard, I agree with all of your posts.

Dec 6, 2017, 8:22pm Permalink
John Roach

Dave, for 8 years Obama did not move us to Jerusalem. Did that get us any closer to a peace deal? Bush for 8 years before that did not move us. Did that make any difference. In fact, we did not move since the law to move was passed in 1995. For 22 years, not moving did not make any difference. And I don't think moving now will make any more difference than not doing it for 22 years.

Dec 6, 2017, 9:37pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Today's action by President Trump confirms that he is a puppet of the Zionists. With regards to Palestine/Israel, President Trump doesn't know his ass from a hole in the wall. It is obvious who is calling the shots for this move... his daughters' husband... an American Jew, staunch pro-Israel Zionists, mega-millionaire, lawyer who attended liberal Harvard and NYU, and certainly has 'dual loyalty' at the least.

I supported Trump [still do(?)] but he sure has been very disappointing in his selection for several key staff and administration positions. IMO the #1 Worst Choice Trump has made was Jared Kushner for Chief White House Advisor. Not only is Kushner a wailing conflict of interest [being married to Trump's daughter], but even much worse his demonstrable ties to the Zionist.
"He and his family have extensive ties both to Israel and to Netanyahu personally, to include Netanyahu’s staying at the Kushner family home in New York. The Kushner Family Foundation has funded some of Israel’s illegal settlements and also a number of conservative political groups in that country. Jared has served as a director of that foundation and it is reported that he failed to disclose the relationship when he filled out his background investigation sheet for a security clearance. All of which suggests that if you are looking for possible foreign government collusion with the incoming Trumpsters, look no further." - Philip Giraldi

I really hope that Kushner gets removed completely from the Trump administration, but it's probably too late, the damage is done [besides, who's gonna do it, the Mueller investigation?]. "As Kushner is Jewish and certainly could be accused of dual loyalty in extremis, this part of the story obviously makes many in the U.S. Establishment and media uncomfortable, so it is being ignored and expunged from the record as quickly as possible. And don’t expect Special Counsel Mueller to do anything about the Israel connection. As an experienced operator in the Washington swamp he knows full well that the Congressmen currently calling for blood in an investigation involving Russia will turn 180 degrees against him if he tries to go after Netanyahu." - Philip Giraldi
http://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/russiagate-becomes-israelgate/

The Jew's return to Israel in 1948 was a calculated plan of the globalists blueprint for control of the middle east. They knew the insertion of Jews into the midst of millions of Muslims would create destabilization and ultimately, [with backing by the west] a world war. There was NO good reason for the establishment of the State of Israel other than to cause chaos... remember "Ordo Ab Chao". And please don't give me the 'chosen people, God's elect' fake history BS.

Even at today's numbers there are roughly only 14.5 million Jews worldwide and almost half of them reside in the USA. Israel is basically the size of New Jersey, and NJ has more people than the country of Israel has Jews. And yet the USA is dedicated to forcing the continued existence of a Jewish State in Israel despite the fact that it may cause a major world war?!!! All over 14 million people! who could easily be relocated to the USA and other welcoming nations.

Only an evil person would throw a lamb into a den of Lions and then start shooting all the Lions that attack the lamb in an effort to protect the lamb. Rather the likely motivation was to kill the Lions from the beginning. The USA has for a long time been strongly controlled by the Zionist lobby, and apparently now more than ever they have taken control.

Dec 6, 2017, 9:38pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

John, "For 22 years, not moving did not make any difference."

Bunk.

It kept things from getting worst.

The first rule of being a conservative: aim for stability. Don't take radical moves with unknown and potentially negative consequences.

There is no logical conservative argument for deliberately further destabilizing the region.

Dec 6, 2017, 9:46pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Re: #13 Dave I think you are losing it... you really need to get a grip. The State Dept is hollowed out because your mindless never-Trump confederales are blocking his selections for appointments there. What a great bunch of worthless Americans the Democrat and Republican "loyalists" are. Putting your goddamned pride and stubborn lust to "have it your way" before all else. Face the reality like I had to, Trump is the President for 4 years [even though the Republican (establishment pukes) didn't want him, enough of "we the people" did... including disenfranchised Democrats... I personally know 3 who voted Trump], and he's going to continue to be, just as did Obama.

Dec 6, 2017, 10:54pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Acknowledging Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem will be an antagonist to the Palestinian/Muslim adversary. Expect the Arab/Israeli dispute and terrorism to increase... which is exactly what the Zionist/US military/industrial complex wants.

Dec 7, 2017, 12:47am Permalink
Rich Richmond

Julie, don’t be too smug just yet. Seven of Robert Mueller’s attorneys investigating the Russian probe have donated to Democratic candidates and campaigns, including Hillary Clinton’s. Two people on Mueller’s Russian probe committee were removed; FBI Agents, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. The Justice Department had 10,000 anti-Trump texts between them when they were having an affair.

We now know Peter Strzok was in the room during the FBI’s July 2016 interview with Hillary Clinton, and before FBI director Comey called Hillary’s actions extremely careless, instead of grossly negligent. Hillary needs to be put under Oath the same as Flynn, with FBI agents who have no ties to Mueller or the Democratic Party.

The Justice Department have lifted a gag order on a former FBI informant involved in the Russia bribery case, clearing the individual to speak to Congress about Moscow’s Obama-era uranium deals, and Hillary’s role when Comey was FBI Director and Mueller one of his cronies.

Dec 7, 2017, 1:02am Permalink
John Roach

Howard, how do you know it kept things from being worse (#24)? Three major wars in 1948, 1967 and 1973. and many other major clashes. Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Bush (both of them) and Obama could not get it done. Trump will not get it done.

Dec 7, 2017, 5:55am Permalink
Dave Meyer

Brian, re: #25 that’s bull$hit and you know it. Or maybe you don’t if all you do,is watch fox “news” all day.
Perhaps you can explain why we don’t even have a NOMINEE for the post of Ambassador to South Korea at a time when that region is a veritable powder keg. That’s just ONE glaring example of the complete failure of this “administration” to fail to fill the pipeline of diplomatic appointees.
Trump has publicly stated that all we need is him. We don’t need no stinkin diplomats!

Sorry Brian, but trump’s boy Tillerson has stated from the start that he intends to cut the budget at State and run it “more like a business.”
He was a captain of industry but he doesn’t know $hit about running this department and the result is that a generation of career diplomats have simply left in frustration because they were prevented from doing their jobs.

Dec 7, 2017, 6:48am Permalink
Dave Meyer

If you doubt what I say, simply Google the phrase “department of state lacking nominees to fill open positions” as I did.
I could post a bunch of links here, but what would be the point?

Dec 7, 2017, 6:58am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

John, you don't think things could get worse than they are today? I beg to differ.

So do Tillerson and Mattis who convinced Trump to delay the announcement by a week to beef up security at embassies and American installations.

If Mattis thinks your foreign policy move is a bad idea, then, you know what, your foreign policy move is probably a bad idea.

This does nothing to advance U.S. interests, which makes it the worst kind of action to take. There is nothing about this that is "America First."

Dec 7, 2017, 8:23am Permalink
John Roach

Howard, I don't think this move will make things better or worse. I don't think not moving in the past made things better or worse.. Israel is there and the Arabs will not accept it. That is the whole problem in a nut shell. All the other "issues" is fluff. The only thing they will accept is no Israel and no Jews.

Dec 7, 2017, 9:40am Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Brian. Regarding your #23 comment. According to Coach Calzi, the saying is, "... doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground", not, "... from a hole in the wall".

At least, that's what Coach told our 5th grade swimming class in '58. On the first day of swimming class, he blew his whistle, and told us all to line up against the wall at the shallow end of the pool. Of course, not wanting to be the last one there, I took off at a rapid speed. And, of course, that was Coach's cue to yell, "WALK!! WALK!! Apparently, Hartgrove doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground. We NEVER run around the pool."

Now, normally, being the first day, he wouldn't have known most of the boy's names. But, there were several of us who had older brothers in high school, and Coach knew who they were. So, I had my brother Bob to thank for the unwanted "notoriety" (and, reprimand). Needless to say, it WAS the last time I ran around the pool.

Dec 7, 2017, 10:50am Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Oh yeah, Brian.
IMO the #1 Worst Choice Trump has made was learning to use Twitter.

I believe THAT has caused him more trouble (push back?) than anything else.

Dec 7, 2017, 10:57am Permalink
Brian Graz

Dave here's a couple things you need to get straight. I don't watch FOX news [I don't even have a TV in my home], ALL the alphabet mainscream news networks are BS, especially CNN, which I'd bet is your favorite. BTW, I did a Google search for US Ambassador S Korea, and guess which story came up on top? CNN!!! {Washington (CNN) - Nearly 11 months into the Trump administration, and ten months since Secretary of State Rex Tillerson took office, the State Department continues to grapple with vacancies across its senior ranks. Dozens of countries do not currently have a senate-confirmed US ambassador in place, including key US allies like South Korea, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.} Sounds like you took your talking point right off the CNN script.

Well here's the reality... {Despite being nominated promptly during the transition period, most cabinet members were unable to take office on Inauguration Day because of delays in the formal confirmation process. Part of the lateness was ascribed to obstructionism by Senate Democrats (and RINO Republicans) and part to delays in submitting background-check paperwork.}

As for your contention that "a generation of career diplomats have simply left in frustration", I say good riddance. Trump/Tillerson personally will do a better job negotiating with the other nations than most Ambassadors do. More often than not the US would be better off without the SoS and foreign ambassadors... especially with nimrods like Madeleine Halfbright, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton at the helm. - Draining the swamp is ongoing.

Dec 7, 2017, 4:19pm Permalink
Dave Meyer

Enjoy that kool-aid.
If you think that destroying the Federal government is an admirable goal I feel sorry for you.
This show is almost over. The walls are closing in. Enjoy the show.

Dec 7, 2017, 10:51pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

I seldom watch CNN, unless I don't have a choice; in the Doctor's Office or the emergency room for example, and I can't change the channel.
CNN's latest "President Trump Exclusive" saying President Trump and his top aides had secret access to hacked DNC emails from WikiLeaks.The email, as CNN reported, offered a “decryption key” to access the files. The Washing Post debunked everything CNN reported.

Dec 9, 2017, 6:46pm Permalink
Julie Morales

Rich, your Breitbart conspiracy theories are showing.

“Smug” is the dictator wannabe pervert squatting in the White House who thinks he can bluster and bully the rest of the world, thoroughly bereft of diplomacy or decency, a pig who supports the racist child molester Moore. Now that he’s thrown the Middle East into chaos for the sake of chaos he’ll be abolishing the age of consent and declare it retroactive for his BFF.

Really…get over Hillary already.

Brian: “Trump/Tillerson personally will do a better job negotiating with the other nations than most Ambassadors do.”

Ha! Oh yeah, your great “deal artist” just gave away Jerusalem and “negotiated” absolutely nothing in return. And Tillerson recently “negotiated” a no bid contract worth millions to ex KGB Russians to provide “security” at the US embassies in Russia. Despots everywhere are salivating over their “negotiating” skills. Thanks for the laugh.

Well who needs Fox when you’ve got Bender Bannon tweets, right?

Dave, I hope the walls have sharp rusty spikes like “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”

Dec 8, 2017, 6:40pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

Get over Hillary? No Julie, get over President Trump. The truth is coming out about Mueller, and all crooked paths lead to Hillary.

Since my last Post to you of December 7, 2017, More Clinton connections have come to light for members of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigative team. Investigators are supposed to be fair and impartial.

The Wall Street Journal, not Breitbart, reported about Mueller investigator Andrew Weissmann, and it is not good. He attended Hillary Clinton’s election night party last November at the Javits Center in New York City. Investigators are to fair and impartial without the mere appearance of impropriety. Weisman was also Mueller’s partner at WilmerHale.

The Wall Street Journal, not Breitbart reported Aaron Zebler was Mueller’s former partner at WilmerHale and a former chief of staff to Mueller. Zebler represented Justin Cooper, a key figure in the Hillary Clinton email controversy. Investigations need to be fair and partial without the mere appearance of impropriety.

The Wall Street Journal, Breitbart reported Cooper was a longtime Bill Clinton aide. He responsible for helping set up Hillary’s private email server. Cooper admitted to destroying Hillary’s old mobile devices by breaking them in half or hitting them with a hammer.”

Laugh while you can, Julie.

Dec 8, 2017, 7:38pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Rich. "...Cooper admitted to destroying Hillary’s old mobile devices by breaking them in half or hitting them with a hammer.

Devices, Rich? Don't you mean device, as in singular? Oh, wait... MAYBE there was more than one - uh, yeah, it appears that (from http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/294319-fbi-repor…) "Hillary Clinton may have sent emails from her PERSONAL [emphasis is mine] email address using 13 different devices, according to an FBI report released Friday."

And, [“Investigation determined Clinton used in succession 11 e-mail capable BlackBerry mobile devices … eight of which she used during her tenure as Secretary of State," the report reads.]

But, not to worry, Rich. Because, according to the article, "The FBI was unable to recover any of the devices." So, I guess we don't have to worry that any of the information from her devices got into the wrong hands, right? And, after all, we've all learned that there was no INTENT to "skirt" the law, so, what's the big deal?

Dec 8, 2017, 8:22pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Oh, wait, Rich. I forgot about the "UNSECURED" computer server. But then, if I remember correctly, I believe she said it was bolted to the table, so.... yeah, we're good to go.

Dec 8, 2017, 8:28pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Julie, Trump didn't "give away Jerusalem"... it's not ours. Rather DC belongs to the Zionists, and Trump's daughter's husband is a billionaire dual allegiance American Zionist who also just happens to be a Senior Advisor to the President and obviously is an 'Israel firster'... NOT GOOD for the USA.

Dec 8, 2017, 11:21pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

President Trump didn’t give away anything; see the Congress. In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act, requiring the US to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem by 1999 at the latest. The proposed law was adopted by the Senate 93–5, and the House 374–37. Unfortunately, the legislation allowed the President to delay implementation every six months, something successive presidents, something Presidents from Clinton to Obama haven’t done.

Dec 9, 2017, 12:30pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

"... the legislation allowed the President to delay implementation every six months ..."

Giving a good negotiator a chance to negotiate a better deal, using that legislation as a bargaining chip. Now that chip is played with nothing in return.

Making a concession in negotiation while getting nothing in return ... umm .... sounds like "giving it away" to me. Heck, this wasn't even part of a negotiation. It was just a unilateral concession.

Dec 9, 2017, 12:38pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

We have been negotiating for 22 years. Egypt Jordon, Israel have all honored and complied with their joint peace accords. After 22 years your "bargaining-chip" has all the weight of a bag of feathers.

Dec 9, 2017, 6:44pm Permalink
John Roach

Actually, since 1948, 69 years, the Arabs have not accepted the right of Israel to even exist. How long does it take some people to let that sink in.

Dec 9, 2017, 1:55pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

John, you're right, however, I was referring to the years following the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995. Jerusalem has been the home of the Jews for thousands of years. years.
They have lived among the Babylonians, Assyrians, and Phoenicians to name a few ancient peoples. The roots of Judaism stretch back to approximately 1800 BC, while Islam dates to only 600 to 700AD.

Dec 9, 2017, 7:12pm Permalink
Brian Graz

John, maybe Israel shouldn't have been jammed into the middle of eternal enemies [Cain and Abel] back in 1948 to begin with. Not only the middle east, but the world has been at the precipice of a major war ever since, because of it. Thanks to the wicked scheme of the global planners... lives and liberty mean nothing to them, it's all about power and control.
And Rich please don't give me the BS about the 'chosen people' and the 'promised land', and the Jews were there first. Nobody took Jerusalem or Palestine from the Jews, and the Zionists don't have the authority to take it back.
"Jews, Christians, and Muslims have collectively been subjects of successive imperial conquests, all culminating in European imperialism topped off by the current Zionist colonial conquest of Palestine. From the Babylonians to the Persians to the Romans, down to the Crusaders, the Ottomans, and the British: Palestine has been ruled by successive empires, none of which have had any legitimate claim over the inhabitants of Palestine - Jews, Christians, or Muslims. " Just as the Zionist today [masquerading as 'the Jews'] don't have any legitimate claim on Palestine. However, the globalists are in bed with the Zionist in the operation to claim control the middle east from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea [and all the oil that lives within those boundaries!], and that's a formidable force, as long as the Russians and Chinese can be kept out of the equation.

The USA gives Israel [a nation the size of NJ with a population of just 6-8 million Jews] more $$ in foreign military aid than any other country in the world! Why? Because we have been duped into the age old lie and superstition that religion has created... we are a Judeo-Christian people and are obligated to the protection of our kin. Does anyone understand that Jesus [the originator of the Christian religion] strongly criticized and rebuked the Jewish religion? So why the merger? It's ALL man-made garbage used to scare and control the people.

Occasionally we get a glimpse of common sense and reason...
"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
Every national church or religion has established itself by pretending some special mission from God, communicated to certain individuals. The Jews have their Moses; the Christians their Jesus Christ, their apostles and saints; and the Turks their Mahomet, as if the way to God was not open to every man alike.
Each of those churches show certain books, which they call revelation, or the word of God. The Jews say, that their word of God was given by God to Moses, face to face; the Christians say, that their word of God came by divine inspiration: and the Turks say, that their word of God (the Koran) was brought by an angel from Heaven. Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all."
--- Thomas Paine {Age Of Reason}

Dec 9, 2017, 8:02pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

“Chosen people' and the 'promised land,” are your words Brian, and not mine. What I stated of Jewish origin and the others mentioned is archeological fact.

Dec 9, 2017, 10:04pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Rich, you stated that "Jerusalem has been the home of the Jews for thousands of years". It may have been home to some, but for most of that past 2500+ years it was not under their control. They lost control around 589bc, and though they coexisted there for most of the time since, the Jews did not own or control Jerusalem. Even after the UN mandated Statehood in 1948, Jerusalem was declared an international city under joint control of the Jews, Muslims, Chatholics, Orthodox Christians.

Today the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Bark said, "Any U.N. resolution that dismisses the Bible and dismisses the history, in many, many ways is irrelevant. If you go back, even legally, [Jerusalem] was never anything but belonging to the Jewish people." This is VERY UNTRUE and provocative. Things are sure to worsen.

Dec 9, 2017, 11:44pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

Brian, the words "Palestine" and "Palestinians" are misunderstood.

The word Palestine derives from the Egyptian-Hebrew word "Peleshet.”
It means rolling or migratory. It frequently appears in the Bible and translates into English as "Philistine".

The Philistines are a Mediterranean people originating from Asia Minor and Greece. They arrived in the southern coast of Israel in ancient times via several migrations. One invading group arrived in the pre-patriarchal period. They settled south of Beersheba in the region of Gerar. They attacked Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael, who settled there first. I repeat Brian, the Hebrews who had already settled there.

Another immigrant group came from Crete after a failed invasion of Egypt by Rameses III in 1194 BCE. They seized the southern coastal area. They founded the settlements of Gaza, Ascalon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gat. During the Persian and Greek periods, foreign invaders, from the Mediterranean region conquered the Philistine districts. From the time of Herodotus, Greeks called the eastern coast of the Mediterranean "Syria -Palaestina".

The Philistine were not Arabs or Semites. They were closely related to the Greeks. They did not speak Arabic. They had no ethnic, linguistic or historical connection with Arabia or Arabs. The name "Falastin" is a name Arabs use today for "Palestine". It is not an Arabic name. It is the Arab pronunciation of the Greco-Roman "Palastina"; which is derived from the Plesheth, its root palash) was a general meaning is rolling or migratory. It refers to the Philistine's invasion and conquest of the coast from the sea.

The use of the term "Palestinian" for an Arab ethnic group is a modern political creation which has no basis in fact - and had never had any international or academic credibility before 1967.

Dec 10, 2017, 12:00pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

I REJECT THE SPIRIT OF YOUR POSTS, BRIAN The use of the term "Palestinian" for an Arab ethnic group is a modern political creation and has no basis in fact. It never had any international or academic credibility before 1967. It has spawned the Zionist political rhetoric you are posting.

Here is more rhetoric from a man (a monster) that I despise and loathe. I reject him for his skewed logic and I reject him as a Christian. I reject everything he stood for.

“Due to his own original special nature, the Jew cannot possess a religious institution, if for no other reason because he lacks idealism in any form, and hence belief in a hereafter is absolutely foreign to him. And a religion in the Aryan sense cannot be imagined which lacks the conviction of survival after death in some form. Indeed, the Talmud is not a book to prepare a man for the hereafter, but only for a practical and profitable life in this world.” -Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf.

The Palestinian Charter calls for the destruction of Israel.

What is your final solution for the Jewish people in Jerusalem, Brian?

Dec 10, 2017, 12:47pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Rich there are many variations of 'revised' history. You can believe what ever mixture or falsification you like. Fortunately, so far the truth is still available to those who choose to understand it, and not succumb to the superstitions and mythical tales of the religious. You prod me for a "final solution"... that's funny. How about we force all the Jews to move to the USA and live on Indian Reservations? Am I to suppose you have one? Much wiser minds than mine or yours have wrestled with Palestine/Israel question for generations without a "final solution". If we could eliminate all religion that would be a start, but that will never happen, not until and unless we are visited by some advanced extraterrestrials who have proof that they were here before and explodes the mythical concept of God. But people are too indoctrinated in faith [unprovable beliefs] to ever hope for reason to prevail. So the next best thing is to try and work out a peaceful coexistence. But isn't that what supposedly been tried at least for 100 years now?

I reiterate the wisdom from my favorite mentoring American founder, Thomas Paine... then I'm out.
"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit. Every national church or religion has established itself by pretending some special mission from God, communicated to certain individuals. The Jews have their Moses; the Christians their Jesus Christ, their apostles and saints; and the Turks their Mahomet, as if the way to God was not open to every man alike. Each of those churches show certain books, which they call revelation, or the word of God. The Jews say, that their word of God was given by God to Moses, face to face; the Christians say, that their word of God came by divine inspiration: and the Turks say, that their word of God (the Koran) was brought by an angel from Heaven. Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all."

Dec 10, 2017, 5:58pm Permalink
Brian Graz

Yes I know that John, although many in mainstream religion labelled him an atheist and a heretic, and after publishing his final work Age of Reason some of his closet affiliates from the American Revolution and Independence fight also turned against him because even though they agreed and rejected organized religion, they also understood the power to control the masses that religion wielded and they didn't want to loose that leverage. Pretty disingenuous I'd say. Thus Paine and Jefferson have my utmost admiration above the rest because they were most true to themselves, and uncompromising.

Dec 10, 2017, 7:10pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

Extraterrestrials, Brian, really?

Anthropology and archeology are not revised history. Linguistics, the scientific study languages is not revised history.

When do predict the extraterrestrial mothership will arrive and do you have a ticket to get on.

Dec 10, 2017, 7:27pm Permalink
Julie Morales

Rich, you realize Robert Mueller is a Republican. And Hillary Clinton is a private citizen.
What you are asserting is pure Bannon BS. Apparently you are residing in denial land over the “connections” between Russia and the entire Trump administration. You aren’t even a little concerned about that?

At least six Trump advisers were/are using private email servers to conduct official White House business. Where’s the outrage?! But Hillary….

You: “Investigations need to be fair and partial without the mere appearance of impropriety.”

I think you mean, “impartial,” but maybe not. You should try stand up, that’s funny stuff.

You: “After 22 years your ‘bargaining-chip’ has all the weight of a bag of feathers.”

Wrong. It took Trump less than 22 seconds to throw it away.

That the Israelis and Palestinians want to annihilate each other is one reason why presidents “…from Clinton to Obama..” didn’t do what numbnuts did.

Ed: “So, I guess we don't have to worry that any of the information from her devices got into the wrong hands, right?”

You mean like deliberately, intentionally disclosing classified Israeli intelligence to Russians in the Oval Office?! Oops, that was Trump.

You guys should take your show on the road.

Howard, totally agree with #46.

Dec 10, 2017, 7:50pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

Julie, it is always entertaining to hear from you. Your bombast of the “Julie Universe” is always good for a chuckle. You do realize Hillary Clinton is also a public figure and is on the news 24/7. Public figures are fair game, in or out of Office.

She’s writing a new book-”Help, I lost the election, and I can’t shut up!”
Even Bernie’s writing a book-“Hillary stole my nomination and won’t shut up.”

Yes, I meant impartial. If you truly believe in impartiality, will you explain why Hillary wasn’t placed under Oath by Mueller and his team? General Flynn was under Oath, and it is a crime to lie to the FBI. Why General Flynn and not Hillary? Follow the campaign donations. The fact Hillary is a private citizen, and a public figure does not preclude her being placed under oath. Remember the famous reset button with the Russians and other questionable things.

Imagine parents from Clinton to Obama telling their violent child, “I’m only telling you one more time. Don’t make me tell you again. Don’t make me do it.” as a bargaining chip to get the said child to comply, but didn’t carry through, and this went on for 22 years. What do you suppose the outcome will be? That is bad parenting, and doing nothing without carrying through is bad diplomacy.
Have you ever heard the expression doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?

And speaking of outrage, where is your outrage with “that pig” Hillary Clinton’s husband taking rides on known pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's private jet, dubbed the "Lolita Express" to Epstein’s private Island. Given Slick Willie’s well-known proclivity for not keeping it zipped, I doubt he went to play chess. Judicial Watch has a copy of the flight logs and has foiled more information.

Talk about conspiracies; you must get your news and talking points from comedian Whoppie Goldberg on the View. Wasn’t she going to leave the Country if Candidate Trump was elected? Oh well, so much for telling the truth.

Did Whoopie Goldberg say that President Trump threw away the controversial “bag bargaining chip 22 seconds into his Presidency, or is this more of your usual bombast? Fact: President Trump did that recently.

Don’t take your bombast show, Julie’s Universe” on the road. You’ll barely make gas money.

Dec 11, 2017, 9:44am Permalink
John Roach

Julie, rather easy question for you, let's see if you can answer it.
Do you think the Palestinians want peace with Israel or do they want no Israel (and remember their Charter)?

Dec 11, 2017, 6:53am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

I believe most Palestinians want peace. Just as most Israelis want peace. Most people want peace. Most people want to take care of their families and live with minimum danger and maximum stability.

It's the leaders on both sides who want endless war to feed their own egos and self-serving interests, who stir up fear and hatred and push conflict so that the people sometimes lose sight of their own best interest.

Which is why the U.S. should stay out of it.

Dec 11, 2017, 10:02am Permalink
Brian Graz

"Israeli Jew and activist, Ronne Barkan speaks out as a way to dispel the Israeli propaganda. Growing up in Israel, Barkan experienced firsthand the privileged life of a Jew as well as the propaganda that is taught to all children beginning in kindergarten. Speaking against the Israeli propaganda, he cites first the illogical claim that Israel is a Jewish democratic state. How can the state have a democracy if at the very core of Zionist Israel one group of people (the Jews) are identified as superior, and all others are discriminated against?

He brought up many examples of Israeli laws and internal systems that ensure the segregation of people, foremost being that the Israeli state ID lists Jewish or Arab as the “nationality” of each individual living inside Israel, whereas the individual’s passport lists Israeli as the nationality and the ID also has the legalistic distinction of “Citizen” if Jewish and “Resident” for all other nationalities, regardless of the birthplace of the individual. These distinctions make it easy to discriminate against and profile non-Jews, effecting daily movement, employment, land use and ownership, as well as citizenship, immigration and naturalization, which furthers the Zionist plan for a Jewish-only state. Barkan remarked that these laws have created a demography, not a democracy, which will never bring equality or peace to Israel."
http://www.globalresearch.ca/greater-israel-the-zionist-plan-for-the-mi…

The ultimate planned prize.
http://www.sweetliberty.org/issues/israel/greater_israel_files/planned…

Dec 11, 2017, 11:58am Permalink
Tim Miller

Sidebar.... A guy who drinks at the same bar I do came in this past Friday saying he just put his fat foot in his mouth. He was using Uber to get to the bar (he can be a fool, but not a total fool) and was chatting with the driver. He noticed the driver has an accent he didn't recognize, so he asked where the driver was from.

The drive mentioned Israel, and that he and his brother had been in the US for decades running a couple of restaurants. The drinking buddy says to the guy "you know, when I meet somebody who is Jewish, I always tell them I support Israel."

The driver tells him "I'm not Jewish."

The drinking buddy was appropriately embarrassed by his declaration.

I haven't spoken to him yet, but I do want to ask this guy a few questions:
- When you meet somebody from Canada, do you declare "I support Canada"?
- When you meet somebody from Taiwan, do you declare "I support Taiwan"?
- When you meet somebody from Luxembourg, do you declare "I support Luxembourg"?

If the answer is "no" to any of them, then why in the bloody deuce would he state to *any and all* Jewish people he meets "I support Israel"?!?

Dec 11, 2017, 2:04pm Permalink
Julie Morales

Rich, it’s you and the Repubs who just can’t shut up about Hillary. Your persistent crush on her is a bit embarrassing for you.

What is it you think Mueller has to question Hillary Clinton about? Gawd don’t say “uranium!” Robert Mueller (my hero) is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election and the many corrupt connections to the Trump campaign. Your conspiracies have been debunked, multiple times, at taxpayer expense. Let go of your Hillary obsession and let the healing begin.

John, why couldn’t I answer your question? My answer is, what difference does it make? Now my question for you: How would you like it if some halfwit world leader declared your property now belongs to somebody else who proceeds to take it from you using violent force, and will only allow you and your family a bucket of water a week. Would that be okay with you?

You want to challenge me on the Palestinian charter with which I am unfamiliar but I get your gist…I would say it’s obvious Israel wants no Palestine! And around we go.

Look, I don’t have a solution to Middle East peace. I think the Middle East is precarious, and doesn’t need a stupid self-promoting diversion from that orange idiot butting in like he’s king of the world. His newest scheme involves sending Americans to Mars; I think he should be the first to go, and take his boot lickers with him.

Dec 11, 2017, 9:21pm Permalink
John Roach

Julie, stay on facts. Hillary has pushed herself out there since her loss. Book tours and talking on any network that will have her. Even Dems are saying they wish she would just go away. And Muller has branched out, you know that.

But, with all the conflicts of interest coming out about the investigation, we need somebody other than Muller to look into Hillary.

As for the Charter, it says Israel has to go, it can not exist. As for giving property away, Jews say they are just taking their property back. But, you tell me why since 1948, the Arabs will not accept peace? The Arabs had most of the land and they had more than half of Jerusalem (and Jews were not allowed to visit their holy sites there-you knew that of course)>

Dec 12, 2017, 6:17am Permalink
Rich Richmond

For the second time, Hillary is a public figure, and your intolerance for the opinions others and polite discourse is an embarrassment.

Who are you to tell me or anyone else to “shut up?”

More and more about the cover-ups by your hero and the compromised FBI and Justice Department are coming to light every day.

The New York Times reported in 2015 after the Russians announced their intention to acquire a majority stake in Uranium One, Bill Clinton received $500,000 for a Moscow speech from a Russian investment bank with links to the Kremlin. The bank was promoting Uranium One stock.” A total $145 million went to the Clinton Foundation from interests linked to Uranium One, and that is not a coincidence.

I don’t want Mueller to question Hillary. We need a Special Prosecutor just like one investing President Trump. The Truth Matters, Julie and what is good for the Goose is good for the Gander.

“His newest scheme involves sending Americans to Mars,” really, now that really takes the green cheese.You want the President, a man 70 plus to go to Mars? Aren't you afraid President Trump will give the Martian’s lands away to Uranus?

I remember when President John F. Kennedy expanded the space program, and shortly after we were the first to put a man on the moon. Was that a scheme, Julie? Much good science came out of the space program, and it was a monumental achievement that unified our Nation and made us proud.

Dec 12, 2017, 1:36pm Permalink

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